USA > Vermont > Windham County > Brattleboro > Brattleboro, Windham County, Vermont; early history, with biographical sketches of some of its citizens > Part 21
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Arnold J. Hines, as captain of the old artillery and colonel in the old Vermont State militia, in the declining days of our military organization, proved worthy to lead a "forlorn hope." He was prominent in the fire department, in securing the first village charter, and was one of the original members of the Prospect Hill Cemetery Association. As a principal or important actor in establishing and sustaining the only religious organization in this village south of Whetstone Brook, he will be long and gratefully remembered. In religion he was a firm believer in the final restora. tion of all mankind to holiness. In poli tics he was a strong anti-slavery Democrat until the christening of the Republican party, of which, it may be said, he was one of its original members. His last days, which were days of suffering, were char- acterized by the heroic resignation and tender patience which might be expected from a man of his large and generous na- ture, and his last effort. just as he was en- tering the valley of shadows, was a pleas- ant word and smile to a ministering friend.
[ From the Vermont Phanir. ]
"He was for twenty-five years the senior partner of the well and widely known firm of Hines, Newman & Co.,
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iron founders and machinists. In the responsible and too often thankless labors of the fire department, village and school offices, he was often employed, and his efforts therein were largely instrumental in giving character to this village. He was a man of excellent judgment, of good business habits, and his advice was fre- quently sought and highly appreciated by his townsmen. In all the relations of life, he was a man of integrity of character, combined with a geniality of disposition that commanded the respect and affection of his fellow-citizens no less than of his.
more intimate associates and friends. The existence of an internal tumor, which was rapidily developing, led him, about a year before his death; to retire from busi- ness and close up his worldly affairs. The tumor terminated his life April 6, 1862. An examination disclosed the fact that it was a fleshy, fibrinous substance, with several attachments to the abdomen. It weighed 78 pounds. All the other organs of the body were in a sound condition, except as they were displaced by this mon- strous tumor."
It seems that a large share of his nutri- ment was, in some mysterious way, diverted from its legitimate purpose to in- creasing the size of this formation. This sad case, so remarkable and without pre- cedent here or elsewhere, so far as we know, is deemed worthy of record.
DR. CHARLES CHAPIN
Was born at Orange, Mass., July 10, 1803, but his father, Judge Oliver Chapin, a soldier of the Revolution, removed to Brattleboro almost directly afterwards, where he continued to reside and to act a prominent part in business and public affairs during the remainder of his life.
Dr. Chapin was fitted for college by Rev. Dr. Coleman, and graduated from Harvard University in 1823, when 20 years old. He went through the usual course of studies for the medical profession under the direction of the celebrated Dr. Bige- low, of Boston, and commenced the prac- tice of medicine in Springfield, Mass., in 1826. In 1827, he married Elizabeth B. Bridge, of Charlestown, Mass., by whom he had one child, Elizabeth Alice, who married Joseph Clark in 1846 or '47.
· In 1830, his first wife having died, he married Sophia Dwight Orne, of Spring- field, by whom he had five children- Lucinda Orne, Oliver Howard, Mary Wells, William Orne and Charles Jones- all now (1878) living. In 1831, Dr. Chapin removed to Brattleboro, and soon after gave up the practice of medicine and thereafter devoted himself to business and public affairs, filling many public offices with credit and fidelity. He was a mem- ber of the legislature in 1833, and was for a long time deputy sheriff and the most active officer of that kind in the county. He was United States Marshal during the administration of President Pierce, and for many years was one of the efficient directors of the Vermont Mutual Insur- ance Company. He was one of the first members and organizers of the Unitarian Society of this place, and for 25 years was a favorite moderator and presiding officer at town meetings and other public gather- ings, and his services were in frequent request to conduct funerals. For many years, and until infirmities forbade, he was the very acceptable and efficient chief en- gineer of our fire department; also a director of the Vermont Valley Railroad Company when their road was being con- structed, in 1850, and at the same period a clerk of the company.
Dr. Chapin was an active, energetic, influential and useful man in this commu- nity for nearly 40 years, and whatever was given him to do was always well and faith- fully done. During a period of. several years after resigning his medical practice, his advice in council was deemed of im- portance by the profession. Nature had indeed been lavish in giving him excellence of form and feature, a good constitution and a commanding presence; high spirited, quick of apprehension, honorable and just in his dealings with all men, possessing all the advantages which education, wealth, social culture and position give, his influ- ence was wide and enduring. While not without faults, his virtues were of the manly sort which command universal es- teem. Suffering about seven years from paralysis, he died on the 47th anniversary of his second marriage, Jan. 6, 1878 .- Ex- tract from the writings of Chas. K. Field.
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HON. ASA KEYES
Was born in Putney, Vt., May 30, 1787. His father was Deacon Israel Keyes. He fitted for college in the then somewhat famous Chesterfield, N. H., Academy, and graduated at Dartmouth in 1810. He engaged in teaching for a couple of years, then studied law with Judge Phinehas White, of Putney, and one year with Ebenezer Rockwood, of Boston. He was admitted to the Windham County bar in 1814; married Sarah Britton, of Chester- field, N. H., Jan. 7, 1815. He practiced law at Putney until 1833, when he removed to Brattleboro, where he has ever since resided. He early became a Mason and was for a time W. M. of Golden Rule Lodge in Putney.
He has held, and what is better, filled many official positions; he represented Putney in the lower branch of the legisla- ture in 1826 and 1827, and Brattleboro in 1835. Was a senator of Windham County in 1855 and 1856, and both years a promi- nent member of the judiciary committee. He was Judge of Probate for the West- minster district while residing in Putney, and that position gave him the title of "Judge," which he has since borne. He was also, for a number of years, Register of Probate for the Westminster district, and for 15 years preceding 1879, Register of the Marlboro district. He has been a Justice of the Peace " since a time whereof the memory of man runneth not to the contrary." Was a trustee of the Windham Provident Institution for Savings from its origin, and of the Vermont Savings Bank since the change of name. He drew the will of Mrs. Marsh, the founder of the Vermont Asylum, and was for 35 years a trustee of that institution. He framed the charter for that institution and secured its passage through the legislature.
Judge Keyes early stepped into the front rank of his profession and always stayed there. The bar of Windham County has always been an able one, and he did his part for more than half a century to keep the standard of excellence high. Though not eminent as a jury advocate, he was a successful practitioner; he was a good draughtsman, a skillful pleader, and the best equity lawyer in Southern Vermont, if not in the whole State. His Supreme
Court briefs are models for other practi- tioners; he was always listened to atten- tively by the courts, for he never talked unless he had something to say. He was studious and painstaking, faithful to his clients and honest with the court. He was a good husband, a kind father, and always faithful to every trust; he never attained to wealth. The income arising from the practice of his profession he spent freely in his family, and gave generously to the church he attended, to public objects and to the poor and needy, as many among them can testify.
He is now, (March 22, 1879), nearly 92 years old, but still a healthy, vigorous old gentleman ; he is the oldest living graduate of Dartmouth College, the oldest lawyer in Vermont, the oldest Mason and the oldest justice of the peace. His good, vigorous old age is due in part to a healthy constitution, but mainly to his temperate and methodical habits. Though never a " total abstainer," he has ever been tem- perate and abstemious in both eating and drinking. He always loved his pipe and a game of whist. To those who know him best, his conversation is still entertaining and instructive.
Of his four children, one is the wife of Judge Royall Tyler of this village; an- other, a faithful daughter, who cares for her father in his declining years; a son, Judge George B. Keyes, died in California two years since, and another daughter, de- ceased, was the wife of Dr. F. N. Palmer, of Boston, Mass.
CHAS. N. DAVENPORT.
HON. JONATHAN DORR BRADLEY,
Son of Hon. William C. Bradley, of West- minster, Vt., was born in Westminster, Vt., in 1803; was a graduate of Yale Col- lege and fitted for the legal profession; was married to Susan Crossman in 1829, and first practiced law at Bellows Falls, but the most of his professional life-about 30 years-was passed in Brattleboro, where he died in September, 1862. His widow and four sons are now, (1878), living. William C., a graduate of Harvard in 1851, and Richards now reside in this place. Stephen Rowe lives in New York and is of the firm of Hall, Bradley & Co., exten- sive manufacturers of white lead. Arthur C. graduated at Amherst, class of 1876.
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The subject of our sketch was a grandson of Hon. Stephen R. Bradley, who was one of the foremost men of Vermont a hundred years ago. Before our State was a mem- ber of the Union, he rendered important services in resisting her enemies, and was highly fitted by nature and cultivation to advocate our claims-the right to exist as a State in the Union-against the deter- mined opposition of New York. How grandly and triumphantly he assisted our infant State in her early struggles, has long since been recorded in history. [See Hall's History of Eastern Vermont]. During, and years before, the declaration of war with England in 1812," he was United States Senator from this State, and his son, William C.,-the father of J. Dorr Brad- ley-was elected Representative to Con- gress a short time after the close of said war.
Hon. Jonathan Dorr Bradley, in some specialties, had no equal in his profession in this county, if in the State. His knowledge of mechanics-extensive scien- tific attainments and willingness to impart the same to others-rendered him an almost inexhaustible source of information upon matters often imperfectly understood by the learned, as well as those of more ordinary attainments. To thoroughly understand the laws governing the pro- duction of the natural and artificial, or the discovery and bringing to light a hidden or obscure truth, seemed to be the greatest pleasure of his life. Pecuniary motives had but little if anything to do with his scientific labors, so far as he was personally concerned, but he gladly and freely fur- nished theories for the practical. Those who have met him, in controversy at the bar or elsewhere, have learned that his mental exercises in the sciences did not render him a less formidable antagonist in debate.
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In the days of Andrew Jackson he acted with the democracy, but he was not a radical, or so governed by prejudice as not to candidly weigh and examine the views of his opponents. His devotion to truth was ardent and unremitting, and he was always ready to
" Seize upon truth "where e'er 'tis found, On Christian or on heathen ground; The plant's divine where e'er it grows, Amongst our friends or 'mongst our foes."
It became so apparent that the Demo- cratic party had lost all claim to that name, by following John C. Calhoun to death and destruction, Mr. Bradley early left the sinking ship, and ever after acted with the dominant party in this State in sustaining the old flag, and shortly before our civil war-in 1856-57-he represented this town in the State Legislature. It was there he became noted by his able action in the State House question. There was healing in his presence before tumultuous assem- blies and heated clashing of opinions. He was on the first board of directors of the Vermont & Massachusetts Railroad Co., and no one in this place exerted so power- ful an influence in forwarding the con- struction of that road to Brattleboro. His simple presence at railroad meetings in towns on the route was to all a harbinger of success; but when came forth in earnest tones his arguments, honest convictions and prophesies, all doubts of success van- ished. Difficulties or opposition only aroused him to greater efforts, and those efforts did not cease until the occasion for them passed away.
As memory calls up the early days of his advent here, we see him, as if but yester- day, at the Village Lyceum. From his inexhaustible mental resources came forth telling arguments, with playful sallies of wit, compelling a general laughter of the audience, more beneficial to the dyspeptic portion than all the patent medicines ever invented. Nor can we ever forget, when addressing a juvenile assembly, how he held the attention of little boys and girls, who would seem to see nothing but his genial countenance, and hear nothing but his words of wisdom, so attractively and ingeniously adapted to their comprehen- sion. Upon one such occasion, in the Goodhue oak grove, in July, 1842, a stranger to Mr. Bradley, from Ohio, re- marked, at the conclusion of Mr. Bradley's address, as follows:
"The gentleman who gave the last ad- dress has uttered the fewest words, but he
*See correspondence of Judge Tyler and Senator Robinson in Tyler papers.
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has really said more than the five gentle- men who have preceded him. He is cer- tainly a Christian, for he has given us the whole law and gospel. Who is he and what is his business?"
We replied: "He is a lawyer by pro- fession, and his name is J. D. Bradley. If he is a Christian, I think he is not con- scious of it, for he belongs to no church, and is rarely seen in attendance upon religious exercises."
"Real Christians," said he, "are the last ones to know it of themselves, but their light may so shine that others may know it. When you find a man who is quite positive he is a Christian, you may well be on the lookout for him. There never was a face like Mr. Bradley's on a bad man."
Perfect master of the science of adapta- tion to all grades of intellect, Mr. Bradley's remarks always found attentive listeners. The countenances of the hod-carrier, me- chanic, scholar, farmer and merchant all assumed a more happy and elevated ex- pression so long as the sound of his voice could be heard. His young professional brethren will ever gratefully remember the information imparted to them by him, in so modest and inquiring a manner, as to make it seem he was the learner and pre- vent, so far as possible, a feeling of obliga- tion from his inferiors. After some 25 years practice of the law, his friend Ros- well M. Field, a noted lawyer of St. Louis, reproved him for not giving the Yankee proof of success in life.
" Roswell," said he, "I have laid up my treasures in Heaven, where moth and rust doth not corrupt nor thieves break through and steal."
Several instances could be given where he, in his intercourse with mankind, faith- fully obeyed the instructions in Proverbs, chapter 25, verse 5. We will give one in- stance of his ready wit:
Coming hastily into the law office of Mr. F., he enquired for Chitty on Contracts.
" What do you wish to know?" replied Mr. F., placing one finger on his forehead, "I carry my book here."
"I see," said Mr. Bradley, "bound in calf."
Near the close of a warm day in July, 1837, a prominent citizen of the village became highly excited in denouncing a
lecturer upon slavery. Wiping the per- spiration from his brow, he said to Mr. Bradley :
"A man who will lecture about the country, forming abolition societies, de- serves a coat of tar and feathers, and I hope Tyler will be ridden out of town on a rail before to-morrow night."
Mr. Bradley calmly replied: "I think among our societies we need one more, and I would suggest it be a keep cool society."
In conversation with a neighbor, upon the cultivation of plums, Mr. Bradley said : "I know the curculio is considered a for- midable obstacle to the culture of plums, but to a certain extent they are needful to prevent a too great abundance of fruit. When they appear in excess, we must fight them, and if they are smarter than we are they will get all the plums, to which they are entitled, by the same rule governing in transactions of far greater importance."
[The following we received from Wm. C., eldest son of Mr. Bradley]:
"The late J. Dorr Bradley, soon after he entered on his professional career, re- ceived the gift from a friend of a noble mastiff, named Jowler, to which he became much attached. About that time a motion was made in the legislature to tax dogs, which gave rise to the following jeu d'esprit from his pen. The effect was to defeat the motion, and it was laid aside for many years; indeed, until he became a member himself, when it was again intro- duced, and he recited, at the request of a colleague, the lines to Jowler, with the same effect as before. Since his decease it has passed into a law. There is a like- ness of Jowler in the possession of J. D. Bradley's family, painted by his friend Fisher."
TO MY DOG JOWLER.
Jowler! they have taxed you, honest friend ! Assessed you, put you in the roll,
To exile every dog they'll send,
Unless some friend will pay his poll.
By all that's good, the rascals meant Betwixt us two to breed a strife,
And drive you into banishment, Or bribe your friend to take your life.
But Jowler, don't you be alarmed ! If politicians do neglect you,
Confound their tax! you shan't be harmed,
I know your worth and I'll protect you ! J
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But taxes by the constitution Convey the right to represent, So, dogs, by this same resolution, Might just as well as men be sent.
Now, dogs and men and voters hear ! That Jowler's put in nomination To go, upon the coming year, And aid in public legislation.
Jowler, avoid the demagogues, Keep out of the minority ;
Take care to smell of other dogs, And vote with the majority.
How he was regarded by his most inti- mate friends and members of the legal profession in this State, may be learned by the action of a meeting of the bar of the United States Circuit Court for the Dis- trict of Vermont, holden at Rutland, on the 3rd day October, 1862. Hon. Lucius B. Peck was called to the chair.
On motion of H. E. Stoughton, Esq., E. J. Phelps, A. P. Lyman and Horace Allen, Esqs., were appointed a committee to report appropriate resolutions relative to the decease of Hon. J. Dorr Bradley, of Brattleboro. On motion, Mr. Stoughton was added to the committee. The com- mittee reported the following resolutions :
Resolved. That the members of this bar have heard, with profound sensibility and regret, the announcement of the death of Hon. J. Dorr Bradley, since the last term of this court.
Resolved. That it is due to his memory that this occasion should not be allowed to pass without placing upon record, as the unanimous and deliberate judgment of his brethren throughout this State, that the profession to which his life was devoted loses in his death one of its most valuable members and most admired ornaments.
Resolved. That we shall cherish an un- failing and grateful remembrance, which none who knew him would willingly for- get, of his distinguished abilities as an ad- vocate, his varied and elegant acquirements as a scholar, his genial and attractive qualities as a man; and shall recall with a sad pleasure, in the scenes from which he has departed, those professional labors we shared with him, enriched on his part by learning so complete, by wit so rare and sense so full, and inspired always by so thorough an appreciation of what belonged to the lawyer and the gentleman.
Resolved. That these resolutions and the proceedings of this meeting be presented to the court, with the request of the bar that they be allowed to be entered on the minutes, and that the clerk of the court be
desired to transmit a copy to the family of the deceased, and to furnish copies for publication.
E. J. PHELPS, for Committee.
The resolutions were unanimously adopted, and the meeting adjourned.
LUCIUS B. PECK, Chairman.
CLERK'S OFFICE, UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT, DIST. OF VERMONT.
1 hereby certify that the above and fore- going is a true copy of record.
B. B. SMALLEY, Clerk.
[From the Vermont Watchman of Sept. 19th, 1862:
"It is with great sorrow that we record the death of this distinguished gentleman, at his residence in Brattleboro, on the 9th inst. We learn that he was taken severely ill with fever some three weeks since, and that his disease made rapid progress, until it quenched one of the most cultivated in- tellects and genial hearts that our State has produced. He had a discerning, rapid and comprehensive mind, an elegant and varied culture. He was quick and ardent in his sympathies, a lover of truth and justice, and a fervid hater of all shams and hypoc- risy. He was a member, for Brattleboro, of the House of Representatives for two years, in which the State House contro- versy was waged, and distinguished him- self as leader in debate in that most bril- liant conflict.
" If it had not been for his deafness, which prevented his hearing all points of discussion, no man that Vermont has pro- duced would have surpassed him in the debate in the halls of legislation. But whatever might have been the qualities that fitted him for a public career, he was most eminent in social and private life. His rare store of information and culture were open to his friends, and he liad few equals in the genial exchanges and conver- sations of social life. His reading was extensive and recherche, his memory was retentive, his style of conversation was playful and captivating and always appro- priate to his theme, his perceptions were quick and vivid, his illustrations apt and beautiful, and his whole air and manner reminded us of the school of elder times in which he had his training. The death of such a man is a public calamity, and in common with his nearer associates and
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neighbors and friends, we would lay a small tribute of our high appreciation of his worth upon his fresh made grave."
[The above was undoubtedly from the pen of Hon. E. P. Walton .- ED.]
We omitted to state that Hon. Stephen R. Bradley was the first U. S. Senator chosen from Vermont.
WILLIAM MORRIS HUNT,
The eldest son of Hon. Jonathan Hunt, of Vernon, Vt., and Jane Maria Leavitt, of Suffield, Conn., from whose maternal side he inherited his genius for art, was born in Brattleboro, Vt., March 31, 1824.
Upon the death of his father, in 1832, his mother removed from Brattleboro with her family to New Haven, Conn., where William was placed at Mr. Skinner's school. He very early showed skill in drawing, and several finely drawn sketches and even small cameo heads are preserved in the family, done by him previous to his tenth year.
In New Haven, Signor Gambadella, an Italian gentleman who had fled from Italy during the troublesome times of Silvio Pellico, was engaged to give William his first regular instructions in drawing.
In 1839, he was prepared for college by Mr. William Wells, of Cambridge, Mass., and was matriculated at Harvard in 1840. Owing to a pulmonary difficulty during his senior year, a change of climate was recommended by his physicians, and Oct. 9, 1843, he accompanied his mother and family to Europe. As his life hencefor- ward was devoted to art, a sketch of his career as an artist will best define the limits of this paper.
The winter and spring of 1843-44, was spent in Rome, where he applied himself to the study of drawing and sculpture. During the summer, he traveled through Switzerland on horseback, visited Paris and many places of interest in England, and in the spring of 1845 went to Athens and Constantinople. In 1845 he entered the Art Academy of Dusseldorf, where he devoted himself exclusively to anatomy and drawing, and not liking the style of this school, he did not join the class in painting. While in Dusseldorf he lived in the family of Leutze, the artist, and held most friendly relations with Lessing, Sohn, Schrædter, and other notable men of that school.
At this time Lessing was painting his
picture, "The Martyrdom of John Huss," and selected the head and figure of his friend Hunt as a model for the martyr.
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